The Story of the Poor Rich Man

Once it happened that he was celebrating his birthday. his wife and children had given him many presents. He liked their choice immensely, and enjoyed it all thorougly. But soon the architect arrived to set things right, and to take all the decisions in difficult questions. The master greeted him with pleasure, for he had much on his mind.

But the architect did not see the man's joy. He has discovered something quite different and grew pale. "What kind of slippers are these you've got on?", he exclaimed painfully. The master of the house looked at his embroidered slippers, then he breathed in relief. This time he felt quite guiltless. The slippers had been made to the architect's original designs.

So he answered in a superior way, "But Mr Architect, have you already forgotten? You yourself have designed them." "Of course," thundered the architect, "but for the bedroom. They completely disrupt the moode here with these two impossible spots of colour. Can't you see that?!"

- Adolf Loos, 1900